ARTS | ‘Saudade’ exhibition kicks off at MGM

Featuring a collection of 40 artworks created by 12 local Portuguese artists, the “Saudade” Art Exhibition was unveiled at MGM Macau on Wednesday evening, as a tribute to Portugal’s National Day.
The exhibition’s curator, along with one of the exhibiting artists, José Drummond, explained at the opening ceremony that “Saudade is one of the most complex feelings to explain,” and “can be considered the most Portuguese of feelings.”
“We all have someone, a family member or a friend, with us in this world or not, that we miss dearly. We all possess a special sense of longing for a place or for a moment where and when we were truly happy. Sometimes we have this endless rapture about a moment in the past (…),” he explained.
“We know it will be different but we hold onto that promising feeling deep down in our souls and we go on in our paths carrying it, holding it inside us in our very own secret place. This is what we call ‘saudade’: this yearning of the soul; this special feeling we hold inside us that is capable of giving us a deep emotional state of love,” added Mr Drummond.
From photographs featuring numerous elements of Portuguese culture, to freehand brushworks capturing light and moment, illustrations which depict Macau’s past and present, and even abstract canvas paintings expressing emotions, the art exhibition provides a collective narrative on the idea of saudade while also focusing on individual lived experiences.
“In this exhibition the artists acknowledge the memory of their own roots, while, at the same time, they relate and assume their sense of community and belonging to the place that welcomed them – embracing and integrating them as a vibrant part of the city of Macau. The imagery, style and diversity of the artworks clearly show how the impact of Chinese inspiration and Portuguese saudade are incorporated into Macau culture,” said the curator.
Ms Pansy Ho, co-chairperson and executive director of MGM China, also stated at the opening that the exhibition is aimed at “bringing diversified arts to our community, helping to facilitate exchanges among different cultures.”
“We embrace the deep cultural roots, unique history and shared heritage between China and Portugal that Macau encompasses. And with these ties, MGM Macau is committed to being the city’s tourism and cultural ambassador. This is not solely because of our devotion to art, but also our belief that art is the spiritual pillar of cultural diversity and social sustainability, a key element to help develop Macau into a world tourism and leisure center,” she said.